Chris Laviano was 0-for-9 with an interception in the Scarlet-White Game but remains in the hunt as Rutgers has not yet officially named a starting quarterback. (Mark Sullivan/MyCentralJersey.com)

When Rutgers football coach Kyle Flood said Saturday that Gary Nova would be the starting quarterback if the season began right now but that he is not yet ready to name a starter at the end of spring camp, the most common interpretation of his words was Nova has a nearly insurmountable lead in the three-horse race.

But Mike Bimonte and Chris Laviano – neither of whom has played a snap in their college careers while Nova has made 28 starts – more likely heard something along the lines of, “So you’re saying there’s a chance.”

Rutgers opens its season Aug. 28 at Washington State.

“Gary has played a lot of games,” Bimonte said. “I kind of expected that to be the case. But really my goal is to put myself in the best possible position going into training camp and then let it fly from there and let the coaches make that decision.”

Nova finished 6-of-13 for 78 yards in the Scarlet-White Game after throwing just one interception and completing about 68 percent of his passes in the first 14 spring practices, according to information given by the coach and senior-to-be.

Bimonte, who also is entering his fourth year though he will be eligible again in 2015 as a redshirt senior, went 5-for-11 for 55 yards. He started for Scarlet opposite Nova, who directed White to a 21-0 victory.

“Coming in together, obviously we spent a lot of time together,” Bimonte said of his relationship with Nova. “I think we both have the same vision as to where we want to be individually and as an offense. I don’t know if we measure against each other. It’s more measuring against the standard we want to be.”

Though he is only a rising redshirt freshman, Laviano widely was thought to be Nova’s biggest threat when the spring began. He showed flashes of playmaking but experienced plenty of growing pains, capped by going 0-for-9 with an interception in the spring game.

“I’m trying to get better but I’m also fighting for a job,” Laviano said prior to the game. “There is a lot of time until Washington State. In my eyes, getting better every day will take care of itself. Whoever is the best player is going to play.”

It was Laviano’s second spring camp as he enrolled in January 2013 in order to get a jumpstart on learning all the mental responsibilities thrust onto a quarterback.

“It was a new offense so to start from scratch and keep up with everything is good,” he said. “That wasn’t the case last year. I didn’t really know how to approach it. I knew how to approach it this year and I think I got the most football knowledge I’ve ever gotten in these 15 practices. I’m looking to just ride off that.”

Bimonte said spring football is different than other practice times because the reps are not as limited and you are “working against yourself.”

“I really don’t try to get caught up in the big picture,” Bimonte said. “I really just focus on the day-to-day operations and trying to get better each day. Now we have a little bit of a break, and this summer is going to be really crucial getting ready for training camp.”

Laviano also tries not to get too concerned with his place on the depth chart.

“Every day I’m just doing the best I can do mentally and physically. I’ll leave it up to the coaches. All I can do is try my hardest every day,” he said after the April 24 practice.

“Toward the end (of camp) a lot of things clicked. I was putting pieces together and playing a lot better. You get to recognize the defense and you know all the options now. The sky is the limit once you know everything.”

About Ryan Dunleavy

Ryan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.

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About the Author

Jerry CarinoJerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.E-mail Jerry

Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004 and began covering Shore Conference sports full time in September 2006. He is a 2004 graduate of Springfield College with a degree in communications/sports journalism.E-mail Josh

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan